The Russian Civil WarBetween the years of 1918-1921, Russia would be torn apart by the Russian Civil War. After gaining control of the 2 major cities of Petrograd and Moscow, the Bolsheviks would face numerous threats from monarchists, loyalists to the former Provisional Government, militarists and foreign nations. Collectively, these threats were named the whites.
Internal threats would prove to be hard to handle. The map to the right highlights the various threats posed by Denikin, Kolchak, Miller and Yudenich. Meanwhile, external threats, including those by the Czechs and Polish, as well as the British and French in 1918, would continue to be a thorn in the Bolsheviks side. A third element to the Civil War included the threat of the "Greens," peasant armies which were loyal to neither the whites nor the reds. Lenin regarded these as more of a threat than all the white threats combined. Why did the Red win? 1. They controlled a central location with major rail links 2. The Red Army were a key factor. They were well trained and indoctrinated with Bolshevik belief. Trotsky also recruited ex-Tsarist Military Officers effectively. Also, many flocked to join the Red Army as they were well fed, unlike many others during the Civil War. 3. Bolshevik Propaganda helped brew support in affected areas. 4. Leadership of Trotsky and Lenin. 5. The Cheka: The policies of Red Terror helped suppress any discontent amongst the people. Why did the White's lose? Importantly, the Whites lacked unity and a common purpose. They were divided in purpose and therefore could not coordinate themselves together against the Red Army. As a result they could not capitalise on propaganda, and were not looked on favourably because they were fighting alongside foreigners. |
http://www.johndclare.net/images/Russ_w2.gif
Murder of the Royal FamilyOn July 17, 1918 the Royal Family were executed in Ekaterinburg. The murder proved to Russia and the rest of the world that there would be no return to Tsarism in Russia.
There are many motives behind the execution, including: 1) The White Armies were approaching the town and may be rescued 2) Saving the Royal Family could have motivated anti-Bolsheviks 3) It was a demonstration that there could be no going back to Tsarism 4) Difficulties in communication led to local initiatives rather than waiting for central decisions. |
Resources
|